Emerging colt Age Of Fire burst into 2000 Guineas contention for Te Akau Stables on its day of domination at Riccarton on Saturday.
The Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richard-trained 3yr-old emerged the winner after an epic home-straight battle battle with similarly progressive Hot Fuzz.
Age Of Fire’s win gave his trainer their third of four wins on the programme.
While the victory did not come as a surprise to Autridge, the style in which the colt delivered it did.
"He was ridden a little upside down due to the size of the field," he said.
"I think he’s better when settled back a little more and, hopefully, he can show that next time up."
The win handed Autridge and Richards and stable rider Michael McNab a double with progeny of classy sire Fastnet Rock after their early-running 2yr-old Avantage won his first start in race 3.
"We have a big opinion of Avantage," Autridge said.
"She will definitely take improvement from the run but she’s on target for her main assignment."
That main assignment was the Welcome Stakes on the last day of New Zealand Cup week, Autridge said.
The Te Akau stable also produced another 3yr-old, Swing Note, who won by turning around a last placing for rider Alysha Collett. The Autridge-Richards combination’s big day at the office was capped when Tiffany’s Time won race 10 under Michael McNab.
The Te Akau roll was briefly stopped prior to that when Imperium flopped as favourite in the North Canterbury Cup.
That did not stop more spoils heading north as Waiuku galloper Locally Sauced toughed out a gritty victory. The Grant and Tana Shaw-trained 6yr-old, who has been campaigning in the South Island since July, held off a good late finish from Wingatui mare Princess Brook and a tough effort from the third placed What A Deeza. The win provided apprentice Kin Kwo the first half of a winning double as he went on to claim the next race on Born A Royal for Ashburton trainer Bevan Wilson.
Carrying at least 4.5kg more than his rivals could no stop Maybe Miami from winning the Coupland’s Mile Trial.
The Kevin and Pam Hughes-trained galloper delivered via a rails-hugging ride from 3kg-claiming apprentice Tanya Jonker.
Last year’s 1000 Guineas winner, La Diosa, resumed with a moderate fourth on the rain-affected Riccarton track in her first run since contesting the Australian Oaks at Randwick in April.
- additional reporting NZ Racing Desk
